Sirach 7:4-14

Do not seek from the Lord high office,
or the seat of honour from the king...
Do not grow weary when you pray;
do not neglect to give alms. (Sirach 7: 4,10)

In the verses assigned for today there are three "Do not seek..."

There are seven, "Do not..."

Seeking and doing are related, but crucially different.

Seeking is intentional. Doing is often unintentional.

Seeking may be nothing more than a dream.

Doing has clear consequences for ourselves and others.

We are to take responsibility for both our seeking and doing, but even more care is needed in regard to what we do.